Ripper



Aug. 30, 1938. R. M. DAVENPORT RIPPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 2, 1935 llVl/ENTOB RALPH N. DAVENPMZT Aug. 30, 1938.

R. ,M. DAVENPORT RIPPER Original Filed April 2, 1.935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 //WN T02 Rm. PH IZ DA vavpa/er 721. W flTTOkNEY I Aug. 30, 1938. R. M. DAVENPORT RIPPER Original Filed April 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOIZ RALPH M, DAVENPORT 5W Patented Aug. 30, 1938 U'NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 2, 1935, Serial No. 14,254 Renewed January 24, 1938 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a scarifier and particularly pertains. to a hydraulic ripper.

In various operations where the earth, pavements, and other formations are to be scarified 51: it is desirable toprovide a scarifying structure which may be easily moved from place to place as drawn by traction means and which is fitted with a structure by which the scarifier may be easily controlled. It is the principal object of the present invention therefore to provide a scarifier structure which may be connected with traction means at one end and which is provided with road wheels at the opposite end to adjustably support the frame of the machine, and to control the de- 5 I-gree of penetration on the scarifier blades, all of which structure may be operated and controlled from a remote point on the traction means.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a main frame carrying a blade frame at the rear to which it is articulately connected and which main frame also carries road wheels adapted to be adjustably disposed with relation to the surface of the terrain over which the scarifier moves.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in plan showing the details of construction of the ripper as provided with a hydraulic control. p

:. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation showing the details of construction of the ripper shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section as seen on the line 33 disclosing the pivotal mounting of -the hydraulic control jack.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation showing a modified form of this structure controlled by mechanical means manually operated.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Ill

indicates the main frame of the structure which comprises a pair of parallel frame members II and I2 which extend rearwardly of the device and are secured together by a platform plate I3. The

forward end of the platform plate is V-shaped "and has downwardly extending side flanges l4 and I5 which terminate at an apex at the forward end of the frame. An end. wall I6 connects the side flanges M and I5 and is formed with an opening I! to receive the horizontally extending 'pin I8 of a draw bar hitch [9. This pin is provided with a shoulder 20 which abuts against the end face of the member [6 and a nut H which abuts against the rear'face of a web 22. The web 22 is secured transversely between the flanges 55. I4 and |5 and is provided with a central opening 23 through which the member l8 extends. Side rails H and I2 are shown in Fig. 3 as being of I beam section, and as shownin the plan view these beams extend rearwardly for a distance beyond the rear edge of the platform plate I3 of 51:: the frame. These extensions are provided to rigidly support a scarifier frame 24. The scarifier frame is here shown as formed with vertical end frame members 26 and Zl and vertical cross frame members 28 and 29 which members are connected 16 with a platform plate 30 disposed thereabove. A similar plate 3| is disposed below the vertical frame members and carried thereby and is disposed parallel to the upper plate 30. A series of slotted openings 32 are formed through both 15 plates and in staggered relation to each other as shown in Fig. 1. Mounted at opposite sides. of the slotted openings in the upper plate 30 are angle; plates 33 which have vertical flanges 34 extending parallel to each other and in alignment with 20% the opposite sides of the slots 32.' The slots 32 and the vertical flanges of the angle plates 33 are longitudinally aligned with relation to the structure and receive ripper teeth 35', which teeth extend downwardly through the frame structure 24 5% and are held against removal by bolts 36 and nuts 37. The teeth 35 are disposed at an angle to the vertical and are preferably inclined downwardly and forwardly from the frame 24'. Each of the teeth passes through a guide stop 33 secured to 30.5. the under face of the lower plate 3|, and having front and rear shoulders tending to resist longitudinal movement of the teeth as would be the case when a scarifying action is taking place. The lower ends of the teeth extend forwardly in 35?. tapered toes 38 which are fitted to .carry removable points 39 comprising a sleeve 40 into which the toe extends and a ripping blade 4| projecting forwardly of the sleve and toe for cutting and penetrating the material to be acted upon. The Q frame structure thus assembled is pivotally mounted by ears i2 upon pivot pins 43 which carryfork structures 44 for ground wheels 45, one of which ground wheels isdisposed at each side of the main frame Ill and in advance of the 45:?! laterally projecting sides of the scarifying blade frame structure 2d. The wheel forks 44 comprise parallel plates 46 and 4'! which at their rear ends are pivoted upon the pins 43 and at the forward ends carry anti-friction bearing structures 48 to 50); receive the axles d9 of the wheels 45.

It is intended that the wheels 45 shall be vertically adjustable with relation to the frame 10' and that they shallbe simultaneously movable.

This is accomplished by connecting the wheel? forks 44 by a rigid intermediate transverse yoke member 50. This member is preferably tubular in cross section and is welded with its ends abutting against the vertical faces of the plates 4?. A pair of levers 5| are secured upon the transverse yoke member 56 at a point intermediate the ends of the yoke and are spaced. from each other to receive the forward end of a piston rod 52 which is connected to the levers by a pin 53.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the piston rod 52 extends longitudinally of the frame it and forwardly of the ground wheels 45 where it carries a piston 54. This piston is adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder 55 of a hydraulic jack. The cylinder 55 is fitted with a suitable head 56 through which the piston rod 52 extends. A suitable packing gland is carried by the cylinder head to prevent leakage therearound. The cylinder is provided at a point midway its ends with a yoke 5'! which carries oppositely extending trunnions 58 and 59. These trunnions are pivotally supported in a pair of vertically spaced brackets 66 and 65 secured to the platform plate l3 of the main frame ill by suitable means, such for example as the bolts 62. By this arrangement the cylinder may have free vertical swinging movement as necessary to adapt it to the various positions of the fork structures 44, as will be hereinafter set forth. Mounted at opposite sides of the cylinder are fluid pipes 63 and 64. The pipe 63 extends from a point ahead of the trunnion 59 to a point beyond the end of the cylinder 55 where it communicates with the cylinder head 56. The pipe 64 is disposed upon the opposite side of the cylinder 55 and extends at a point in the rear of the trunnion 58 to a point in advance of the dead end of the cylinder.

55 where it communicates with the cylinder. The pipes 63 and 64 are secured to the ends of the trunnions so that as the cylinder 55 rocks on the axis thereof the pipes will retain their fixed relation to the opposite ends of the cylinder. The two pipes 63 and 64 are provided for connection with a control valve 65 which is conveniently disposed on traction means to which the draw bar hitch I9 is connected. Flexible hose lines 66 and 67 provide the connections between the pipes 63 and 64 and the valve member 65.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4

of the drawings the wheel forks 44 are operated by a cable 68 which is led from the traction unit to the transverse yoke member 56 of the forks and there passes around one of a pair of idler pulleys 69 after which it is led around idler pulleys 16 mounted upon a pivot pin ll carried upon brackets 60 and is then led around another of the pulleys 69 and finally anchored upon an anchor pin 12 carried on the bracket 66. In this way compounded leverage can be obtained by application of power to the cable 68 so that the 'wheel structures and their forks may be easily lifted. In both forms of the drawings it is desirable to provide means for maintaining the wheels 45 substantially clean along their tread As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings this is accomplished by scraping blades '53 which are secured transversely of the fork structures 44 and fastened to the plates 46 and 41.

In operation of the present invention the structure is assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or

indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, where it will be seen that the wheels 45 will lift the edges of the blades 4| a distance above the ground while bodily elevating the frame it at the rear thereof. It will be understood that the draw bar hitch I9 is suitably connected to a traction unit and supports the forward end of the frame In. When a scarifying action is to be performed the valve 65 is manipulated to allow fluid under pressure from a suitable pressure source to pass through the line 6l to pipe 64 and to the forward end of the cylinder 55. This will force the piston 54 rearwardly exerting pressure against the lever arms 5| to elevate the yoke member 56 and to cause the wheel forks 44 to swing upwardly around the axis of the pivot pins 42. This operation will act to elevate the road wheels 45 to any desired controlled degree. It will be understood that as the wheels forks 44 swing upwardly it is necessary for the cylinder 55 of the hydraulic jack to maintain its aligned position between the axis of the trunnions 58 and 59 and the axis of the pivot pin 53. This is accommodated by the pivotal mounting of the cylinder 55 on the trunnions 58 and 59 which are rotatably carried by the brackets 66 and 6|. It will be evident that when the valve 65 is moved to a neutral position the piston 54 will be locked within the cylinder so that the wheels 45 will maintain a desired set position. This will limit the degree of penetration of the ripper blades 4|, or if desired will make it possible for the frame M to be supported entirely on the scarifier teeth 35 so that the blades 4| may penetrate the material being scarified to any uncontrolled depth. When it is desired to discontinue the operation of the machine fluid under pressure as controlled by valve 65 is delivered to the connection 66 and then through pipe 63 to the cylinder 55 at which time the piston 54 will move forwardly within the cylinder swinging the road wheels 45 downwardly into contact with the road and thereafter producing a corresponding elevation of the scarifying teeth. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings the operation will be identical with the exception that the cable 68 will be drawn to control the movement of the road wheels and thus the penetration of the scarifying blades 4|.

Attention. is directed to the fact that the ripper teeth 35 are rigidly held in position by means which will resist considerable strain since the angle plates 33 and guide stops 33' have between them especially heat treated angle blocks which are welded into position and against which the front and rear faces of the ripper teeth 35 will be forcefully held during their operation. This rigid holding of the ripper teeth is preferably brought about with the teeth in an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings where it will be seen that the forward ends of the teeth are in advanced positions with relation to their mountings upon the frame. Thisinsures that to some extent the ripper teeth 35 will be held downwardly into the earth through which they are passing. The action is further increased by the toes which comprise the sleeves 46 and the ripping blades 4!. Attention is directed to the fact that the blades 4| are disposed on the upper face of the sleeves 46 and that there is an angular clearance space 4| directly in the rear of the blade 4i and in advance of the end of the sleeve id-which tends to cause the toes of the ripper teeth to be drawn downwardly into the soil and to be held in position at the depth of penetration as controlled by the adjusted position of the ground wheels. An examination of Fig; 1 will also show that the two road Wheel structures are quite rugged in their design, and are rigidly held together by the member 5%) which is of great strength, thus insuring that the machine can be subjected to heavy duty without damaging strain.

It will thus be seen that the ripper here designed for performing scarifying operations is simple and quite rugged in construction so that it may be subjected to heavy duty without danger of damaging strains being imposed upon its parts, and that the machine is equipped with simple means whereby the operation of the machine may be remotelycontrolled by a structure not liable to get out of order.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, as nowknown to me, it will be understood that various changes might be made in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts by those skill-ed in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A scarifier of the type described comprising rigid parallel longitudinal extending frame members, said members being enclosed and secured together by horizontal platform plates, a transversely extending scarifier frame rigidly mounted across the rear ends of said parallel frame members, horizontal plates secured to and enclosing the transversely extending scarifier frame, slotted openings formed in the scarifier frame plates to accommodate a'plurality of scarifier teeth, a plurality of scarifier teeth mountings in combination with the scarifier frame and its slotted openings, scarifier teeth extending through said slotted openings in the scarifier frame plates and one detachably secured in each of said mountings, said scarifier teeth being vertically mounted and inclined downwardly and forwardly, a pair of Wheel forks one mounted on each side of the main frame in advance of the transversely extending scarifier frame, said mountings permitting vertical swinging movement of said forks and remotely controlled means for simultaneously actuating the wheel forks to raise the wheels and to raise and lower the scarifier teeth from their operative positions, said means comprising a hydraulic jack to the opposite ends of which fluid pressure may be delivered alternately in swinging the wheel forks.

2. In a scarifier comprising a main frame composed of a pair of rigid parallel longitudinally extending frame members, said frame being enclosed and secured together by a pair of horizontal plates, a transversely extending scarifier frame rigidly mounted across the rear ends of said parallel frame members, horizontal plates secured to and enclosing the transversely extending scarifier frame, slotted openings formed in the scarifier frame plates to accommodate a plurality of scarifier teeth, a plurality of scarifier teeth mountings in combination with the scarifier frame and its slotted openings, said mountings being characterized as having a pair of angle plates fastened to the upper platform plate and parallel to the slotted openings formed in the platform plate of the scarifier frame, and angle members adapted to receive bolts whereby the scarifier teeth may be rigidly held in position with relation to the trans versely extending scarifier frame, said scarifier teeth extending through said slotted openings in the scarifier frame plates one detachably secured in each of said mountings, said scarifier teeth being vertically mounted and inclined downwardly and forwardly, a pair of wheel forks one mounted on each side in the main frame in advance of the transversely extending scarifier frame, said mountings permitting vertical swinging movement of said forks, and remotely controlled means for simultaneously actuating the wheel forks to raise the wheels and to raise and lower the scarifier teeth from their operative positions, said means comprising a hydraulic jack to the opposite ends of which fluid pressure may be delivered alternately in swinging the wheel forks.

RALPH M. DAVENPORT. 

